Ticket issuing machine



May 3, `1938. H. D. BLACK ET A1.

TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed 001. 31, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l EQ Si 3'Sheets-Sme?, 2

H. D, BLACK ET AL TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1955 May 3,1938.

May 3, 1938. H. D. BLACK ET A1,' 2,115,760

TICKET ISSUING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet Z5 vrai/vans.

Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TICKET ISSUING MACHINEApplication October 31, 1935, vSerial No. 47,582

ll Claims.

This invention relates to ticket issuing machines and more particularlyto machines for issuing tickets or checks for theatres, restaurants,amusements, railways, busses or the like. The invention is primarilydirected to a type of mechanism which, with slight modifications, isadapted for various uses, for example, in the issuance of preprintedtickets or the printing and issuing of tickets accomplished either byselective operation of keys or by automatic operation initiated by theremoval of a ticket presented by a patron of, for example, a cafeteria.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of ageneral type of mechanism which will form the basis for various types ofmachines with relatively minor changes; From the standpoint ofeconomical manufacture' the advantages of this are obvious, since anumber of parts of the mechanism may be made in largeV quantities toenter into the construction of various types of machines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedselecting means whereby various numbers of tickets or checks may beissued upon depression of selected keys. This mechanism is specicallytied up with the control of a clutch and is under the control of meansfor preventing its actuation if there is a failure ofl ticket stock.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of animproved cutting mechanism having associated with it means forcontrolling a motor-energized switch.

Still another object of the invention is to pro-v vide an improved meansfor aligning the proper portion of a ticket strip with a knife and alsowith a printing mechanism to insure printing of substantially an entireticket so that no material is wasted, while avoiding the necessity forhaving a knife at the point where printing takes place.

Other objects of the invention particularly relating to details ofconstruction will be apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section taken through a multipleticket issuing unit illustrating the principal elements of such unit;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of the motorcontrollingswitch;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing details of the clutch;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated at 4-4 inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane indicated at5-5 in Figure 1; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a restaurant check type of machineshowing particularly the modifications of a key operated machinenecessary to transform the machine into this type.

Referring first to the key operated machine of- Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,there is illustrated only a. single unit which, it Will be understood,is receivable within an outer casing which may con-Y tain a plurality ofsimilar units designed to issue tickets of different denominations. Asingle/motor carried by the outer casing may be used to drive theseveral units through a transverse shaft, indicated at 89, carryingpinions 88, each of which'is designed to drive the mechanism of a singleunit. Such arrangement for the drive of a plurality of units by a singlemotor is well known and need not be described in detail.

Each of the units comprises a frame formed of side plates 2 and suitableconnecting members. A transverse plate 4 is provided with a plurality offinger openings. A flexible diaphragm of rubber is secured to the undersurface of the plate 4 underlying the openings and has printed on itsupper surface, so as to be visible through the openings, numbersindicative of the tickets which will be issued upon depression of theportions of the diaphragm aligned with the openings. 'Beneath thediaphragm. and in line with each of the openings is a key member 8secured to an individual key lever I0 journalled upon a transverse pinI2, the several key levers being properly spaced from each other byspacers (not shown). When the key levers are in, their upper position,the keys are so arranged as to press the portions of the diaphragm 6aligned with the openings slightly upwardly. If such portions of thediaphragms are depressed, the corresponding key levers are rockedclockwise as viewed in Fig. l. The forward ends I4 of the key levers aresuitably guided in Vertical slots formed in the downturned forward edgeof plate 4. Individual springs I6 normally urge the key levers towardupper position, these springs being attached to downwardly extendingfingers I 8.

Also journalled upon the pin I2 is a stirrup member 2Q, engageable bythe fingers I 8 of the key levers and normally urged in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l; by a spring 2|. ThestirrupI 26 is provided with a depending arm 22 to which is pivoted,through a pin 24, a member 26 provided with a turned end 39 engaging astep 32 formed on the upper edge of a link 34, which is guided at itsforward end -by a slot engageable with a shaft 36 and at its rear- Ward.end by a slot 28 engageable over the pin '.ZII.l 55

A spring 40 normally urges the link 34 in a forward direction intoengagement with the shaft 36. Ashoulder 42 on the link 34 engages adetent 44 normally urged in a counterclockwisedirection by a spring 45to engage its active end with one of a series of teeth 46 formed on aratchet member 48 carried by the shaft 36. A yoke 56 carried by theratchet member 48 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by one ormore of the springs |6, to which reference has already been made. 'Ihereis pivoted to this yoke at 5| a plate 52 guided between a transverse pin54 and stud pins 56 secured to the side plates so that as the yoke 50rocks a forward and rearward movement will be imparted to the guidedplate 52. The plate 52 has formed thereon a plurality of downwardlyextending projections 58 located in staggered relationship, each ofwhich is designed to be engaged by a laterally extending portion 66 of acorresponding key lever. The plate 52 is slotted from its rearward endin line with each of the stop projections 58. Accordingly, if a key isdepressed and the plate 52 thereby caused to move rearwardly ashereafter described, the lateral projection 60 of the depressed key willbe located in the path of one of the stops 58, the vertical portion ofthe key lever carrying the lateral projection being located in thecorresponding slot. On

' the other hand, the arrangement is such that the other slots will notpermit the downward passage of the lateral projections `6|! of the otherkey levers and consequently, while the depressed key lever will be heldin such position, other key levers cannot be depressed to interfere withthe operation. Y

The member 48 is provided with a finger normally engaging the forwardlyprojecting portion 65 of a member 64 to prevent the member 64 fromrocking clockwise about its pivot 66. A pawl 6l, urged clockwise by aspring 1|, is pivoted to the forwardly projecting portion 65 of themember 64. The turned end 30 of member 26 normally lies in front of theextension 69 of this pawl.

There is pivoted to the member 64 above its pivot 66 a link 68 extendingtoward the rear of the machine, where it is pivotally connected to aclutch control member 'l2 pivoted on transverse pin 'I4 and providedwith a clutch releasing element '|6 in the form of a cam engageable witha head 'I8 secured to a clutch pin 80 slidable in a member 82 journalledupon a transverse pin B5. A spring 8| urges the pin toward the right, asindicated in Fig. 4., tending to cause its free end to enter one of aseries of openings 84 in a disc 83 secured to a gear 86 which mesheswith a corresponding one of the pinions 88 secured to the transversemotor-driven shaft 88 to which reference has previously been made. Thehub 32 of the clutch arrangement is secured to a gear S0 and cam disc92. The position of rest of the gear 90 and the driven clutch elementsis determined by a detent 94 which is pulled by a spring 06 into a notchin the plate 02, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A cam |00 is carried by hub 82 and is arranged to rock the clutchcontrol member 12 at the proper times by engagement with a followerroller |02 carried by the latter. The clutch control member is providedwith a switch controlling arm |04 designed to engage an adjustable screw|65 carried by a lever |08 secured to a transverse shaft ||2 and urgedin a counterclockwise direction by a spring I0. A spring |06 secured tothe arm |04 normally urges the clutch control member clockwise about itspivot I4` A shaft I|6 extends across the rearward portions of all of aplurality of associated units and at the rear of each unit carries adepending arm I4 engageable by the upper end of the lever |08. This armis also engageable by a rearwardly extending projection |8 carried bythe knife-operating lever |96, which will be described in more detailhereafter. The shaft I6 at one side of the casing is arranged to controlthe switch mechanism through an arm IIS having a loose pin and slotconnection with a member |20 pivoted at |23 to one of the units or thehousing and urged in a clockwise direction by a spring I2 l. Aconducting contact element |22 carried by a spring |25 is designed to beengaged with both of a plurality of spring contact members |24 wheneverthe shaft I I 6 is rocked clockwise. Connection is thus made to energizethe driving motor when any one of the units is operated.

The gear referred to above meshes with a gear |26 which in turn mesheswith a gear |23 carried by a type drum |30 pivoted upon a transverse pinI3 I. The drum |30 is arranged to carry type indicated at |32 and alsodating and numbering heads |34 and |38. The dating head may be manuallychanged, while the numbering head may be automatically changed byengagement with a iiXed element during each rotation of the drum |30.Both of these are conventional in type and need not be furtherdescribed.

A platen roller |38 is carried by brackets |39 arranged for fineadjustment lby eccentric and strap elements, indicated at |40. Thebrackets |39 are pivoted to a carrier |42 and are adjustable in suchfashion as to cause platen |38 to be movable radially toward and fromthe drum |30. The carrier |42 is pivoted upon the pin |44 and may belocated in the active position shown by manipulation of a lever |48secured to a pin |56 pivoted in the carrier and provided withnonecircular ends receivable within circular lower ends of slots |52formed in the upper edges of the side plates 2. The ends of the pin |50will not pass through the upper portions of the slots |52 when themanipulating pin |48 is in the position shown, but may pass therethroughwhen the pin is moved to the dotted line position indicated in Figv l,whereupon the carrier |42, together with the platen and knife, may turnupwardly to afford access to the mechanism located therebelow. By suchmovement of the carrier, the connection between the knife and lever |96is interrupted, to be restored when the carrier is returned to normalposition.

Guides |54 are mounted on the carrier |42 and cooperate with guides |56to receive a ticket strip |58 fed between the latter. The ticket stripis thus held under control to the point of severance by the knife |94,which will be later described.

When there is a ticket strip located in the lower end of the passagebetween the guides |56, a suitably .guided pin |60 engages it andthereby holds upwardly a pin |62 and connected block |64, which areurged in a counterclockwise direction about a pivot |61 by a spring |65.A link |66 connects the block |64 with the rearward end of the link 26.

Feed of the ticket strip between the guides 53 is effected in a fashionsimilar to that described in our prior application Ser. No. 756,554,filed October 2, 1934. Improved ticket grippers, however, are provided.The mechanism just referred to comprises a slide |68 mounted to slidealong the guides |56 and arranged to be moved by a lever'll pivoted on apin and provided with a follower |12 movable within a cam groove '|14 fin the disc 92 and held to avoid'play by a spring Properly timedreciprocatory movements which are mounted gripper members and |82provided with gripping points, as shown, designed to press the ticketstrip against a backing plate |83 carried on the slide below anelongated central opening formed in the guides |56. Springs |84 and |86engage pins |81 and |88 to cause the members |80 and |82 to grip theticket strip. A cam |99 located adjacent the lower portion of the guidesis arranged to engage the pin |88 at proper times to disengage element|82 from the ticket strip. The operation of this mechanism will bedescribed hereafter. There is provided means (not herein shown) forfreeing both grippers to facilitate entry of a ticket strip through theguides, this means being similar to that of our prior application. Thepointed grippers herein disclosed are more durable and reliable inoperation than those shown in our prior application.

The movable knife |94 in the form of a flexible blade is held downwardlyagainst a fixed blade |92 by means of adjustable screws |93 engageablewith the edges of an upwardly arched portion thereof. The rear end ofthe flexible blade |94 is provided with an opening within which thereengages a pin projecting upwardly from the knife-operating lever |96,which is pivoted at |98 and urged in a counterclockwise directionv by aspring |99. The lower end of the knife-operating lever |96 is providedwith a projection 200 engageable by a roller 202 secured to the .gear90. A nger 204 formed on the lever |96 is'engageable within a socket ina lever 296 pivoted at 201 and provided with an end 298 also engage--able by the roller 292. Counterclockwise rocking of the lever 206 willimpart clockwise movement` to the knife-operating lever so that thelatter will impart to the knife a cutting stroke. i

Inking of the type is effected by means of an inker generally indicatedat- 2|!! and comprising a removable frame within which is jcurnalled anink cylinder 2|2 against which there may be adjustably pressed an inkingroller 2 |4 carried by a bracket 2|5, adjustment of the position ofwhich is controlled through the medium of a screw and nut arrangementindicated at 2|'|. The cylinder 2| 2 is arranged to carry a supply ofink on its interior and is provided with a soft facing through which theink may exude. The amount of ink delivered to the roller 2 |4 isdetermined by the pressure of the latter upon the cylinder, The inkerunit is guided into position by tracks Zhi and 2|8 and is latched insuch position hyengagement of a transverse member 229 by the turned end222 of a latch 224 pivoted to the inker assembly and urged into latchedposition by a suitable spring. By pulling upon the member 224. with thefinger, it may b-e disengaged from the transverse member 220 and theinker thereby vremoved from the machine.

The operation of the multiple ticket issuing machine heretoforedescribedcan be best Aunderstood by considering the events occurring inthe issue of two tickets. The various figures illustrate the parts intheir initial positions.

Depression of the key 8 corresponding to the issue of two tickets servesthrough the extension |8 of its key lever to rock the stirrup 29 `andthereby move rearwardly the pin 24. Assuming that ticket stock |58 isbetween the guides |56,

the finger |60 will be raised and accordingly the end 3|)v of member 26will be forwardly of the extension 69 of detent 6l and the shoulder 32of the link 34. As the pin 24 moves rearwardly, itcarries with it themember 26, the turned end 30 of which causes a rearward movement of thelink 34. The step 42 of this link pushes the detent 44 free of the tooth46 of ratchet 48 beneath which it was previously located. At the sametime the detent 61 is pulled rearwardly out of the path of the teeth 46and as a consequence the ratchet, together with the yoke 59, will snapcounterclockwise'under the action of spring I6.

The turned projection 69 on the depressed keyv lever will, in themeantime, have been. located below the plate 52 Y jection 58, whichcorresponds to the issue of two tickets. In the present case, thisprojection will be the middle one. The plate 52 may, therefore, moverearwardly until projection 56, just mentioned, engages the turned end69 lying below the plate. This corresponds to a movement of the ratchetcorresponding to the angular spacing of two teeth. The plate 52 will nowunderlie the turned ends 69 of the other keys, there being threeindicated in the present case, although it will be understood that anyreasonable number may be incorporated in the machine. The other keystherefore canno-t be depressed. The depressed key, on downwardly.

As the ratchet 48 rotates counterclockwise, the member 64 is free torotate clockwise and carries with it the pawl 6l', the lower tail ofwhich drops into engagement with the stop 63. The movement of the member96|. clockwise is effected through the link 68 by reason of the actionof the spring |96 upon the clutch control member '52. The clutchcontrolling cam 'i5 moves rearwardly, freeing the head 'E8 of the pinSil. Limitation Vof motion of cam 'i6 occurs due to engagement of roller|92 with the periphery of cam |96. The pin 80 is forced to the right, asviewed in Figs. 3 and fl, ready to engage one of the openings 84 in thedisc 83 secured to gear 86. K

As the clutch controlling member 'i2 rocks clockwise, the member |98 isreleased and its spring H9 causes it to force the depending arm ||4rearwardly, producing a closure of the motor circuit through theelectrical joining of conta-cts |24 by the wedge-shaped contact Themotor immediately starts to rotate, driving the shaft 89 and, throughpinion 8B, the gear 85. As soon as the pin 89 snaps into one of theholes 84, drive is established through the gear 99. The gears 88 oncompanion units will also be rotated by their pinions 88. However, theyeffect no1 action in their units inasmuch as the clutch pins remainretracted.

The Lipper end of the ticket strip will now be located at the cuttingpoint. As the rotation starts, the roller 262 engages the follower end29D of the knife-operating lever, withdrawing the movable blade,uncovering the ticket exit. At the same time the carriage |68 movesdownwardly, pulling with it the ticket strip by reason of the action ofthe gripperl 82, Thegripper |82 is released from the ticket strip at theendof the downward motion of the slide owing to the action of the cam|99 upon the pin |88. As such release occurs, thel upper end of theticket strip is located at the position of the platen roller |38,` andthe 'iirs't-`portio`n of the advancing type immediately thereafterengages the ticket, this comprising the numbering head |36. vThe 'typeand in the path of the prothe other hand, isv held now effects themovement of the ticket strip by frictional engagement therewith, anduntil the printing action is finished, the ticket strip is fed solely bythe engagement of the type therewith, the feed being intermittent iftype is not continuously engaging the strip. Since the gripper |82 isnow released, and since the gripper |80 is so arranged by reason of itsmounting that the ticket strip is free to move upwardly, this actiontakes place without hindrance from the gripper mechanism.

The roller |02 is now engaged by the cam |00 so that the clutch controlmember 12 is rocked counterclockwise. As the result of this action, themember 64 is rocked counterclockwise, raising the pawl 61, which engagesone of the teeth 46, after clearing stop 63, to cause the ratchet 48 tohave imparted thereto a single clockwise step. As the pawl 61 rises, itengages the turned end 30 of the member 26, pushing it upwardly torelease the step 32 on the link 34. This action is not prevented by therod |66 relative to which the left-hand end of the member 26 is free tomove downwardly. As soon as the link 34 is released by the member 26, itis moved to the right under the action of spring 40, permitting thedetent 44 to move below the tooth 46 which has been moved above it inthe ratcheting process.

At the end of the first step the tail 62 of the ratchet 48 is not yetrestored to its original position and consequently, as the roller |02 ispermitted to fall by the cam |00, there is nothing to prevent the member64 from rocking to its extreme clockwise position which it occupiedirnmediately following the tripping. The pawl 61 is thus retracted, theratchet being now held by the detent 44 and the turned end 30 of member26 will now lie upon the upper edge of the link 34 rearward of the step32. At the same time the cam 16, which was rst moved forwardly, willagain move rearwardly so as topermit the head 18 on the pin 80 to passfreely without being withdrawn from the hole 84 into which it projects.

As was noted above, the rst event which occurred was the rocking of theknife lever |96 rearwardly. As this occurred, the projecting member I8engaged the arm l I4, serving to hold the switch closed even thoughwithdrawal of member |08 occurred as the clutch control member 12 wasrocked counterclockwise.

After the last type, in the present case |34, leaves engagement with theticket strip, the carriage |68 again moves upwardly, advancing theticket strip by the action of gripper |80 so as to bring the alreadyprinted portion above the cutting line and to align the portion of thestrip which is to be out with the knives. As soon as the gripper |68reaches its uppermost position, the roller 202 engages the portion 208of lever 206, rocking it and thereby causing the knife operating lever|96 to move clockwise, producing a cutting stroke of the knife to severthe printed ticket. It may be noted that in the meantime the cam willhave attained such position that the member |08 will again be releasedto hold the switch closed so that no opening of the motor circuitoccurs.

The second cycle to issue the next ticket is now ready to occur. Thecarriage |68 again moves downwardly and the knife is retracted. Againthe pawl 61 is moved upwardly imparting another step to the ratchet 48.Continuing to assume that two tickets are to be issued, the

ratchet 48 will now be moved to its initial position, bringing the tail62 beneath the forward projection 65 of the member 64. The clutchcontrol member 16 now moves forwardly but will be held forwardly becauseof the location of the tail 62. It is therefore in position to engagethe head 18 and release the pin 80 from the hole in which it waspreviously engaged, thus breaking the connection between the drivinggear 86 and the hub 82.

As the plate 52 is withdrawn from above the turned portion 60 of thedepressed key lever, the lever rises, permitting the stirrup 22 torotate under the action of its spring 2|, with the result that the pin24 will move the member 26 forwardly, permitting its turned end 30todrop in front of the step 32 and extension 69 of the pawl.

Before the completion of the cycle, the knife is again moved to severthe ticket strip following the location of the ticket strip by thegripper in proper position for severance. This time, however, as theknife lever |96 moves forwardly and the element I|8 is withdrawn fromarm I4, the arm ||4 may swing counterclockwise, since the element |08 isnow held out of engagement therewith due to the position of the clutchcontrol member 12. The switch is thus opened and the motor deenergized.A slight overrun will couse the parts to assume their final position,the detent 94 snapping into the notch of plate 92 to hold the variousparts against reversev movement.

During the above operations the inker roller 2|2 is rotated through themeshing of a gear connected therewith with the intermediate pinion |26in the drive train.

The restaurant check machine .illustrated in Fig. 6 closely resemblesthe multiple ticket issuing machine` described above, except that thereare provided means whereby removal of a ticket held in a position forpresentation to a taker initiates operation of the mechanism to causeitv to go through a single cycle. The clutch controlling means, switchmechanism, ticket strip` feeding and printing means, and inking devices,are the same as shown in the machine previouslyA described, and, in Fig.6, only so much of these is shown as is necessary for an understandingof the different types of controlling elements.

The casing of the restaurant check machine is surmounted by a cover 240provided with an opening through which a printed check projects,V asindicated at 242, this check being pressed against a support 244 carriedby a member 246 similar to |42 of the machine previously described andcarrying a platen roller 248. The pressure holding the check in theposition indicated isv exerted by a finger 250 overlying an opening inthe support 244 and secured to a member 252 pivoted to the supportingframe 246 at 254. A spring 255 urges the member 252 in acounterclockwise direction. Its motion is limited by the engagement ofthe nger 250 with the check, which is formed of paper of suicientrigidity to maintain the nger 250 in its upper position. There ispivoted to the member 252 at 268 a link 260 suitably guided by a pin andslot .connection 262 upon the supporting member 246. A downwardlyextending lip 264 on the link 260 is arranged to be engaged and moved tothe left, as viewed in Fig. 6, by a laterally projecting portion of theknife 266. This knife is operated, as in the previously described form,by a lever 268.

lgageable with an upper element 289 of a twopart lever, the upperelement being pivoted to the lower element 289 at 299 and beingadjustable relative thereto through the medium of a screw and slotconnection indicated at 292.

iThe lower portion 288 of the lever is pivoted upon a pin 294 and haspivotal connection at 295 with a link 29B, which is in turn pivoted tothe clutch controlling member 299 identical with 12 of the machinepreviously described.

'Alsopivoted upon the pin 294 is ar controlling member 399 provided witha projecting portion 392 designed at proper times to engage the lowerextension 394 of the lever 218. 'I'he controlling member 399 has alaterally extending portion through which there slides a rod 396connected to a block SID pivoted at SI2 and urged in a counterclockwisedirection by a spring 3I4 to bring a finger 3|9 into engagement with thecheck strip 3l8 extending into the guideway 329. A pin 398 on the rod398 is adapted to engage and move clockwise the controlling member 399when the check strip supply fails, resulting in the 'downward movementof the finger 3I6 through aligned openings in the guideway 329. There ispivoted to the right-hand end of the controlling member 399 a link 322normally urged upwardly by a spring 324. The link 322 is providedl witha turned end 329 engageable by the finger of an operator who-may pullthe link downwardly to engage a stud 329 thereon beneath a transversemember 339 carried by the frame. When this is done and the link isbrought to the full line position indicated, the portion 392 of thecontrolling member 399 is brought upwardly into the path of theextension 394 of lever 219 with the result that the lever cannot berocked in a counterclockwise direction and operation of the mechanism isprevented. This same action occurs if there is a failure of the checkstrip at the entrance to the guideway. In such case the finger Siedrops, causing the rod 395 to move upwardly and locate the element 399in its full line position. At such time the stud 328 is forced below thetransverse member 339 and snaps in front of it to the full line positionunder the action of spring 324. It may be remarked that both springs 324and 282 are light ones which do not serve to interfere with motionsimparted by the stronger springs Sie and 255, respectively.

In the operation of the restaurant check machine, assuming that thecontrolling elements are in the dotted line positions, the removal of apresented printed check 242 will result in dropping of the finger 259through the support 244 and the forcing of the member 219 to the rightunder the action cf the finger 256. This causes a counterclockwisemovement of the lever 218, releasing its detent portion 284 from theupper end of the link 285-238 which,v rocking counterclockwise under theaction of spring 332 connected to the clutch-control member 298, permitsthe clutch control member to effect engagement of the clutch and closureof the operating switch. The machine is thus set into operation to passthrough a cycle similar to that described .in connection with themultiple ticket issuing knife isrretracted and by engagement with thelink 269 causes the member 252 to be rocked clockwise, lifting thelinger 259 outof the path of the advancing check strip. The rearwardposition of the knife is maintained until the end of the cycle andaccordingly there is no interference by the finger 259 with the proper`advance of the strip until the fee-d is ended. When the knife moves tocut the strip, the nger 250 is again permitted to drop against it. Theknife, in its cutting movement, moves considerably beyond the iinalposition'of the extension 264 so that dropping of the finger may takeplace to initiate a new cycle when the presented check is removed.

Uponwithdrawal of the finger 256 from the link 219, the lever 218 ispermitted clockwise movement under the action of spring 282 as soon asthe link 286-298 is moved clockwise by the action of a cam correspondingto I 99 upon the clutch controlling member 298. When the clutchcontrolling member 295 is thereafter released, the upper end of thelever 286-288 will engage the detent portion 284 of lever 218 to preventinitiation of another cycle except by removal of a check.

The relative adjustability of the portions 296 and 289 of the compositelever provides for the attainment of a tripped condition for theapparatus serving to positively insure its operation without fail uponremoval of a check.

It will be clear that numerous Variations may be made in the specificVembodiment of the invention withoutdeparting fromits scope as defined inthe following claims.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripto issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; a knife forsevering individual tickets from the strip, said knife being in itsstrip-'severing position at the beginning of a cycle; a motor;connections through which the motor may drive said strip feeding meansand actuate the knife, said connections including a clutch; clutchcontrolling means; a switch controlling operation of the motor; meanswhereby said switch is closed by the clutch con: rolling means at thebeginning of a cycle; means for moving the knife toits inactive positionduring the early part of the portion of the issuing operation for eachticket; means whereby the knife in such position is operative tomaintain the switch closed; means for moving the clutch controllingmeans during the issue of each ticket to the position which it occupiesin disengaging the clutch and in which it is inoperative to maintain theswitch closed, said position being occupied during the issue of thetickets of a series preceding the last only when the knife is in itsinactive position; and means for actuating the knife to out the strip.

2. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripto issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; a knife forsevering individual tickets from the strip; knife actuating means; amotor; connections through which the motor may drive said strip feedingmeans and actuate the knife, said connections including a clutch; clutchcontrolling means; a switch controlling operation of the motor; meanswhereby the switch is closed by the knife actuating means when the knifeis in inactive position; and means whereby the switch is closed by theclutch conmachine- As soon as the operation starts, the

trolling means when the latter is in clutch-engaging position; said lasttwo means being alternately effective during a multiple ticket issuingcycle to maintain the switch continuously closed until the end of thecycle.

3. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripto issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; means for severingtickets from the strip; a motor; connections through which the motor maydrive said strip feeding and severing means, said connections includinga clutch; clutch controlling means effective to disengage the clutch;means for oscillating the clutch controlling means during the issue ofeach ticket between the position which it occupies in disengaging theclutch and its inactive position; and means for holding the clutchcontrolling means in the former position after it assumes it during theissue of the last ticket of a series.

4. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripto issue one ormore tickets in a cycle of operation; means for severingtickets from the strip; a motor; connections through which the motor maydrive said strip feeding and severing means, said connections includinga clutch; clutch controlling means; means for oscillating the clutchcontrolling means during the issue of each ticket between the positionwhich it occupies in disengaging the clutch and its inactive position;means for holding the clutch controlling means in the former positionafter it assumes it during the issue of the last ticket of a series; andmeans actuated by the clutch controlling means for rendering saidholding means operative.

5. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip;means for feeding the ticket strip; a knife for severing a ticket fromthe strip; means for actuating the knife; a carrier for the knifepivotally movable to a position to carry the knife away from the feedingmeans; and connections between the knife and its actuating meansarranged to be interrupted when the carrier is moved to said positionand restored when the carrier is returned to its normal position.

6. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripto issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; driving means; andmeans for controlling actuation of the feeding means by the drivingmeans, said controlling means comprising a ratchet member variablymovable at the beginning of a cycle to predetermine the number oftickets to be issued, means for restoring the ratchet member step bystep to its initial position, and means whereby the ratchet member inits initial position holds the restoring means in the position itassumes in moving the ratchet member to such initial position.

7. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripto issue one or more tickets in a cycle of operation; driving meansincluding a motor and a clutch located between the motor and the feedingmeans; and means for controlling actuation of the feeding means by thedriving means, said controlling means comprising clutch controllingmeans, a ratchet member variably movable at the beginning of a cycle topredetermine the number of tickets to be issued, means for restoring theratchet member step by step to its initial position, said restoringmeans being connected to the clutch controlling means, and means wherebythe ratchet member in its initial position holds the restoring means inthe position it assumes in moving Y the ratchet member to such initialposition and whereby the clutch controlling means is rendered effectiveto disengage the clutch.

8. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripin a cycle of operation; driving means; means for controlling actuationof the feeding means by the driving means, said controlling meanscomprising a key, an element arranged to trip the machine intooperation, and an interruptible connection between the key and element;and means effective upon exhaustion of the strip supply to interruptsaid connection whereby manipulation of the key in normal fashion isrendered ineffective to start an operation.

9. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripin a cycle of operation; driving means; severing means; means forholding a severed ticket in position for removal from the machine; meansfor controlling actuation of the feeding and severing means by thedriving means, said controlling means including a finger resting on saidsevered ticket and tripped when the severed ticket is removed toinitiate a cycle of operation; and means whereby movements imparted tothe severing means effect movement of said finger out of the path of theadvancing end of the strip.

10. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripin a cycle of operation; driving means; severing means; means forholding a severed ticket in position for removal from the machine; meansfor controlling actuation of the feeding and severing means by thedriving means, said controlling means including a finger resting on saidsevered ticket and tripped when the severed ticket is removed toinitiate a cycle of operation; and means whereby the severing meansmoves said finger out of the path of the advancing end of the strip, andreleases the finger to hold the end of the strip prior to a severingoperation.

11. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for feeding a ticket stripin a cycle of operation; driving means; severing means; means forholding a severed ticket in position for removal from the machine; meansfor controlling actuation of the feeding and severing means by thedriving means, said controlling means including a finger resting on saidsevered ticket and tripped when the severed ticket is removed toinitiate a cycle of operation; means for preventing initiation of acycle of operation in the absence of a ticket strip; and means forlatching said preventing means in Vits active position after automaticlocation therein.

HORACE DRUMMOND BLACK. ALEXANDER A. C. DEGEN.

